Where Are The Iconic Top Gear Bolivia Special Cars?

In the 2009 Top Gear Bolivia Special, hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May embarked on a 1,000-mile journey from the Amazon Rainforest to the Pacific Coast of Chile, using second-hand off-road vehicles purchased locally in Bolivia for less than £3,500 each. The episode, which aired on 27 December 2009, showcased the trio's adventure as they navigated through challenging terrain, including rainforests and the Andes mountains, encountering various obstacles and humorous situations along the way. The cars chosen for this expedition were a Range Rover, a Suzuki SJ 40, and a Toyota Land Cruiser, each presenting its own set of advantages and drawbacks throughout the journey.

The hosts' cars

The hosts of the Bolivia Special episode of Top Gear were Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Each host was given a budget of £3,500 to buy a second-hand car online without being able to inspect the vehicles beforehand.

Clarkson purchased a red Range Rover Classic, which he believed had a 3.9-litre fuel-injected engine. However, May pointed out that it was only the 3.5-litre model, as it had carburettors. Despite being known for its unreliability, it proved capable of handling rough terrain and was ultimately declared the winner of the challenge.

Hammond bought a tan FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser, which had been converted into a soft-top convertible. Although the car had a reputation for durability, it suffered multiple breakdowns throughout the trip and was damaged beyond repair during the sand-dune descent. It was nicknamed 'Donkey'.

May's choice was a red Suzuki Jimny with a 1.3-litre engine, the smallest and most mocked vehicle of the three. Despite this, the Suzuki broke down the least, and its small size made it a capable off-roader. However, it had a broken 4-wheel drive system, functioning only as a "3-wheel drive."

The Amazon Rainforest to Pacific Ocean route

In the 2009 Top Gear Bolivia Special, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May embarked on a 1,000-mile journey from the Amazon Rainforest to the Pacific Ocean. Each presenter was given a budget of £3,500 to buy a second-hand car online, without being able to inspect the vehicles beforehand.

Clarkson purchased a red Range Rover Classic, believing it to have a 3.9-litre fuel-injected engine. However, May pointed out that it was only the 3.5-litre model, as it had carburettors. Despite its reputation for unreliability and frequent overheating, the Range Rover proved capable of handling the rough terrain.

Hammond opted for a tan FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser, which had been converted into a soft-top convertible. Although the car was known for its durability, it suffered from multiple breakdowns throughout the trip and was deemed the most unreliable. It was also damaged during the journey when part of its soft top was set alight by an angle grinder being used to cut air vents in the Range Rover's bonnet.

May chose a red Suzuki Jimny with a 1.3-litre engine, the smallest and most mocked vehicle of the three. Despite this, the Suzuki broke down the least, only encountering issues when water entered its fuel tank while fording a river. One drawback was its broken 4-wheel drive system, which effectively made it a 3-wheel drive.

The presenters began their journey on the banks of the Amazon River, where they were left with their cars and minimal supplies. They encountered numerous challenges, including getting stuck in the mud, dealing with insects and snakes, and having to create a makeshift bridge to cross a gully. They also had to make creative modifications to their cars, such as using tampons to waterproof fuel tank caps and Vaseline and condoms to waterproof engine parts.

As they ventured further, they faced the dangers of the "Death Road" in the Andes, where May's fear of heights led to humorous threats against his co-presenters. They then modified their cars in La Paz and continued their journey, climbing to high altitudes and experiencing the effects of hypoxia. Eventually, they reached the Chilean coast, but not before Hammond's Toyota suffered a fateful accident on a steep sand dune, rolling over and losing a wheel. In the end, only Clarkson and May completed the journey with their vehicles.

The challenges faced

Once they arrived at the riverside in the Amazonian jungle, the presenters faced difficulties in getting their cars off the raft. Clarkson also began to sink into the tidal mud in the river while trying to move the raft, and Hammond had to pull him out with Clarkson's Range Rover. They eventually managed to use spare planks of wood on the raft to drive the vehicles off.

For the first section of the journey, the presenters had to slash undergrowth and go along logging trails, encountering snakes and insects. They also had to use a chainsaw and rope to make a makeshift bridge out of tree trunks to cross a gully. The cars then underwent modifications to cross a river, including using tampons to waterproof a fuel tank cap and Vaseline and condoms to waterproof parts of the engine.

One of the most dangerous parts of the trip was climbing into the Andes to La Paz along the Yungas Road, also known as the 'Death Road' due to its narrowness and sheer drops. May's fear of heights led him to humorously threaten to cut anyone's head off if they bumped into him, even holding a machete near Clarkson's face when he accidentally did so. Hammond also drove into a ditch to avoid a passing bus, only to discover that May's car winch was broken. Clarkson also faced danger when he met a car coming the other way, and the edge of the road ledge started to crumble under his wheels.

The presenters modified their cars in La Paz and then crossed the Altiplano. They attempted to take a route over the Guallatiri active volcano but had to turn back due to severe hypoxia caused by the high altitude. They took Viagra tablets to try to prevent high-altitude pulmonary edema and experienced drunken-type feelings and weakness. The altitude hypoxia also reduced the cars' effective power.

Towards the end of their journey, they had to drive down a very steep sand dune, and during a practice run, Hammond's car began rolling down the dune driverless and rolled over, losing a wheel. However, Clarkson and May successfully completed the descent, making them the only presenters to finish the journey with their vehicles.

Modifications to the cars

The cars in the Top Gear Bolivia Special were modified multiple times throughout the episode to suit the different challenges faced by the presenters.

The first modifications were made to get the cars off the raft they arrived on. The presenters used spare planks of wood from the raft to drive the vehicles off.

Later, to cross a river, the cars underwent further minor modifications, including the use of Tampax tampons to waterproof a fuel tank cap, and Vaseline and condoms to waterproof parts of the engine.

The most significant modifications were made in La Paz, where Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond fitted much bigger wheels and tyres to their cars. James May, meanwhile, simply 'mended' his car and fitted a rollbar. These modifications negatively impacted the cars' performance, gearing them too much for their gearboxes. Hammond also got rid of the roof of his Toyota Land Cruiser and replaced it with a lighted rollbar.

Finally, to prevent high-altitude pulmonary edema, the presenters took Viagra tablets.

The hosts' experiences

The hosts of the Bolivia Special episode of Top Gear were Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. The three presenters were given a budget of £3,500 each to buy second-hand off-road vehicles online, without being able to inspect the cars before purchase. Clarkson bought a red Range Rover Classic, believing it had a 3.9-litre fuel-injected engine. However, May pointed out that it had carburettors, indicating it was only the 3.5-litre model. Hammond bought a tan FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser, which had been converted into a soft-top convertible. May purchased a red Suzuki Jimny with a 1.3-litre engine, the smallest of the three vehicles.

The episode begins with the hosts being dropped off at a riverside in the Amazon rainforest by a raft, instead of the planned helicopter entry, which Clarkson claimed had "crashed." They then had to get their cars off the raft, which proved challenging as the raft was too small for them to get a running start. They eventually used planks from the raft to create a ramp. Once off the raft, they had to slash undergrowth and navigate logging trails, encountering snakes and insects.

To cross a river, they modified their cars using unconventional methods, such as using tampons to waterproof fuel tank caps and Vaseline and condoms to waterproof engine parts. They then travelled to La Paz, climbing into the Andes along the Yungas Road, also known as "Death Road" due to its narrowness and sheer drops. May, who suffers from a fear of heights, threatened to cut off anyone's head who bumped into him, brandishing a machete near Clarkson's face when he accidentally did so.

After modifying their cars in La Paz, they headed towards the Chilean border, attempting to cross the Guallatiri active volcano. However, they experienced severe hypoxia due to the high altitude, taking Viagra tablets to prevent high-altitude pulmonary edema. They turned back at 17,200 feet, with their blood oxygen saturation levels dropping to as low as 84%.

Near the end of their journey, they had to descend a steep sand dune, with Hammond's car rolling down and losing a wheel. Clarkson and May completed the descent, becoming the only two presenters to finish the journey with their vehicles. Clarkson's Range Rover, initially deemed unreliable, proved its worth, leading him to conclude that "the most unreliable car in the world is the most reliable car in the world."

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